Has anyone used "Black Diamond Sand" in your coop? I am having a hard time locating a river sand or natural sand that is not based with silica. The online bag says "Low Free Silica". Actually, I have used play sand with no problems whatsoever, but I have read that the silica content is not good.
Snow is a 4-week-old white marans, obtained from My Pet Chicken. Other 5 chicks are fine. I monitor temperature, use probiotics and electrolytes - no meds or vaccines - chick grower crumbles - minced fruit or tomatoes or cheese once a day. Chicks were outside yesterday for a couple of hours...
I have read about and looked at photos of avian pox, but the scabs on my 5-month-old cockerel look larger, and there are no little white things. I am including photos. He is a sweetie, and he was bullied by some who matured more quickly. I have since separated all of my cockerels. He became...
First - any help is appreciated. I am not finding anything by online searching. My black sex-linked hen is 4-5 years old. She has had an egg-shaped, egg-sized, hard mass in the center of her breast for several days. I felt her squishy, gritty crop two days ago - it was empty this morning...
I read some threads on lifespan of laying hens that are several years old. I got my first 5 reds and 5 blacks four years ago, because I wanted pullets only, and thought that was the way to be 100% sure. I got 5 more reds three years ago. Out of those 15, I have only 3 of each left. They...
This is my third batch of hatchlings - all pullets. I have never seen this. I brought home 5 Ameraucanas, 2 Rhode Island Reds, and 2 Buff Orpingtons. The smaller Red, within 2 hours, pecked at both Buffs, dragging each, until she had bloodied their vents. I separated the 2 Reds, and all...
One of my 15-month-old hens was fluffed out and straining, just before bedtime. I checked her immediately, and a small white tube was protruding from her cloaca. I let her go and watched for a minute or so - she pushed out a completely rolled-up membrane that looked like a skinny cigarette. I...